Even before Thales fell into the well, and the ancient Greeks laid the foundation for Western philosophy, humans were engaged in the search for wisdom — a deeper understanding of their world, the universe and their own minds. Despite the rapid changes to our society and daily life, that pursuit continues. But what does philosophy look like today? Who are philosophers, what are their concerns and what role do they play in the 21st century?... The Stone is a new opinion series that will feature the writings of contemporary philosophers on issues both timely and timeless — art, war, ethics, gender, popular culture and more.

When my young son asked me what a philosopher was, I answered that a philosopher is someone who tries to answer questions no one's really sure have an answer. After a short, startled pause he said: Wow, that could take forever!